Deakin Charity House Project raises more than $2 million

The auction of two Canberra houses has raised more than $2 million to support children with a disability, and could be the single largest donation made to charity in the ACT.

The neighbouring properties at Buxton Street in Deakin were auctioned on Saturday as part of the Deakin Charity House Project, selling for a combined $3.025 million.

A number of stakeholders within the ACT’s property and construction industries joined forces to build and sell the dwellings, including a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house at number 65, which sold for $1.65 million under the hammer.

Its next-door neighbour, a two-storey five-bedroom house at number 63, passed in at $1.38 million, however, a sale price of $1.4 million was negotiated with the eventual buyer shortly after.

Most of the proceeds, more than $2.2 million, will be donated to Canberra’s Boundless all-abilities playground. Hands Across Canberra and Hartley Lifecare will also share in the funds.

Master Builders Association of the ACT commercial operations director David Leitch said the final donation amount was double the goal set during the project’s initial planning stages. This was based on the value of the land donated by the ACT Land Development Agency.

“From the research we can do we believe, from a community project, it is the single biggest dollar-value fundraiser Canberra’s seen,” he said.

“It will allow Boundless to complete stage two of the all abilities children’s playground.”

It’s the third project of its kind in the ACT. The sale of two other charity houses, one in Harrison in 2006 and another in Franklin in 2013, raised a total of more than $850,000.

A number of Master Builders Association members, led by Renaissance Homes, constructed the new Deakin houses, with resources and elbow grease donated or supplied at a low cost. The properties were sold through Peter Blackshaw Real Estate Manuka.

Farrer residents Shannon and Paul Craft bought the three-bedroom house at 65 Buxton Street as they prepare to downsize from their family home of 25 years.

Mrs Craft said they had been looking for a new house in the inner south and were pleased with the design.

Mr Craft said the tightly-contested auction, which attracted a crowd of about 100, was a bit stressful but the couple was pleased to have purchased the home.